Dioecious, annual or rarely perennial.. Stems erect, corm-like, simple or rarely forked.. Juvenile leaves not seen; mature leaves petiolate; blade submerged, lanceolate, elliptic-lanceolate, rarely elliptic, 13.5–64 cm. long, 4.2–11 cm. wide, obtuse, cuneate or obtuse at base, mid-green to dark green, with 5–8 prominent, longitudinal, often scabrid veins connected by cross-veins, together with many smaller longitudinal veins; margins entire or scabrid; petiole 29–113 cm. long, 0.7–1.3 cm. wide.. Nodal scales not seen.. Flowers unisexual.. Male flowers not seen.. Female spathe: peduncle 27–54 cm. long, 0.5–1.2 cm. wide; body of spathe submerged, not or slightly inflated, oblong, elliptic-oblong, lanceolate or ovate, 4.3–7.2 cm. long, 1.3–2.2 cm. wide, 2–6-lobed at the apex, 0–2-winged and with several longitudinal ribs or veins, green, the ribs purple.. Female flowers 1 per spathe; sepals linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, 1.8–2.5 cm. long, 3–4.7 mm. wide, acute to obtuse, green, the margins often hyaline; petals obovate, 2.2–3.8 cm. long, 1.7–2 cm. wide, obtuse, white; ovary of 6(–7) carpels, narrowly ellipsoid, 2.5–4 cm. long, 0.4–1 cm. wide; perianth-tube 1.5–3 cm. long; styles 6(–7); stigmas 12–14, 19–20 mm. long, yellowish.. Fruit narrowly ellipsoid to ovoid, or cylindric, up to 5 cm. long, opening by decay of the pericarp, 1.6–2 cm. wide, green, disintegrating at maturity.. Seeds narrowly cylindric, 3.8–5.5 mm. long, 0.9–1.5 mm. wide, acuminate, dark brown.
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